Twenty-eight lucky - and aged - lavenders can now move into Europe's first gay retirement home:

The newly built, four-storey nursing facility in the German capital could accommodate 28 patients in state-of-the-art rooms with private bathrooms and enough space for some of their own furnishings, said Christian Hamm, an architect and nursing home board member.

"When you're old … you certainly don't want to give up your identity and live in some hostile environment, possibly sharing a room with someone who despises you."

But can you imagine living with 27 old queens? Sheesh!

Europe's human rights court rejected Poland's appeal over their 2005 Warsaw Pride ban:

Euro MP Michael Cashman has welcomed the decision of the European Court of Human Rights to uphold its previous verdict against the Polish Government and the ban by the Warsaw city authorities of the city’s Gay Pride in 2005.

The ban came while Lech Kaczynski was mayor of Warsaw. Later that year, he was elected President of Poland.

“This ruling can now be added to a growing list of actions being undertaken by the European institutions to defend the fundamental freedoms of not just Polish LGBT individuals, but of all European individuals,” Mr. Cashman, president of the Parliament’s gay and lesbian rights ‘Intergroup’, said this afternoon.

Take that, Kaczynski!

• Lily Allen smokes pot. Acts stupid. Shocker.

• Yes, that is an uncomfortable bathroom experience.

• Stop calling Kanye West "gay".

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Don't be distracted by the 1986 synth awesomeness, Europe's "The Final Countdown" has a serious message. We think. Consider these lyrics:

We're leaving together
but still it's farewell
and maybe we'll come back,
to earth, who can tell?

Fleeing ecological disaster, perhaps? Europe does hail from Sweden, which has gone ga-ga for electric cars. Why isn't Europe playing at Live Earth?

The song's also appropriate because today's Friday, so "The Final Countdown" is, quite literally, the final countdown to freedom. Also, it makes us think inappropriate thoughts about Will Arnett, who played Gob (pronounced "Job) on Arrested Development. Gob, of course, used "The Final Countdown" as his magical theme song. We've included two samples - and lyrics - after the jump. (Again, it's Friday.)

CONTINUED »

Hungarian politico Gábor Szetey grabbed some ink after coming out at Budapest's queer film fest.

CONTINUED »

An estimated 1.5 million party people lived it up at this year's Europride in Madrid. The revelers toasted Spain's government for its inclusion, including the government's 2005 passage of gay marriage and historic trans rights laws.

CONTINUED »

• GLAAD may not be about gay defamation, but they're all about male objectification. The media watch dogs have joined forces with Mega Muscle to insure your next wank helps a good cause: them. 100% of preorders of Playgirl Men of the Year Derrick Davenport and Julian Fantechi go straight to GLAAD.

• Inside the steamy world of the LA's homo-hop club scene: Most clubs have kind of a clubby atmosphere. First Fridayz LA is more of a party, a gathering, social networking and dancing to hip-hop music. We do it at non-traditional gay clubs so someone who is not in the life or [someone who is] in the life can come and experience this without being intimidated. It’s not a traditional gay club.”

• ACLU's gay executive director Anthony D. Romero on torture.

• 20-year old former marine James Hardy pleaded guilty to strangling Raymond Catolico and then stuffing his body under a sink. Hardy's been sentenced to 15 years in prison.

CONTINUED »

Fashion's a multi-billion dollar industry, but it wasn't always the cream of the cultural crop. In fact, many governments once intentionally squashed fashion, sacrificing style for the good of nascent nation-states. Political energy, economic bounty and cultural cache helped reinforce architectural development, forming city centers and back alleys to organize - and control - citizens. Now, after centuries of being on the back burner, fashion's taking the world by storm. In more ways than one.

After the jump, Queerty contributor Jesse Finkelstein again employs his schizophrenic style and offers an interview with the venerable - and imaginary - Director of the J. Peterman Institute on Technology Apparel Projects, Dr. George Mendhelsonn.

Read what the boys had to "say" about the rise of the city state, how the government's pumping money into technologically advanced textiles and why your architecture controls you and how what you wear becomes you. Literally.

CONTINUED »

No doubt Elton John's European fans are shaking their faggy fists today. The gay singer's management has regrettably announced that John will not be performing in Venice, Paris, Seville, Berlin or Moscow for his "Red Piano Tour". An Elton flack released the following statement:

We regret to announce that Elton John's European 'Red Piano' shows have been canceled. The promoter has been unable to guarantee to put on the shows, resulting in us having to take this very difficult decision.

We do of course appreciate that Elton's fans will be disappointed at this news, and we are already looking into the possibility of returning to the affected cities in the very near future.

Don't worry, though: the UK shows will go on.

Elton John pulls European tour [NME]

Sure, the wide-world of sports doesn't have the best pro-homo history, but European footballers and fans alike are joining forces to become more inclusive of their cock-sucking peers. Pink News UK reports:

LGBT supporters in Germany and Poland are participating in the Football Against Racism in Europe Action Week, which will see a series of events throughout the continent dedicated to promoting equality including anti-homophobia schemes.

A commendable gesture, yes, but we can't help but wonder: since when does faggotry count as a race? Not to seem like we're not down with greater struggles, but it seems a bit…off the mark. (But, in all seriousness, we think any movement against oppression's pretty excellent.)

• A Nobel Prize-nominated South African AIDS advocacy organization was first not invited, then invited, now refuses to attend the United Nations Special Session on AIDS as an act of protest. [365 Gay]

• At least one elected official is looking out for the gays, even if he is in The Netherlands. Mayor Job Cohen of Amsterdam sent out a written slap on the wrist to the heads of several homophobic European governments telling them to uphold the universal declaration of human rights. [Pink News]

• 72 percent of Americans would hypothetically vote for hypothetical gay candidates as long as they hypothetically agreed on the hypothetical issues. Gay activists are hypothetically excited. [Washington Blade]

• Supporters of the anti-gay-marriage amendment in Minnesota refuse to disclose all the money pouring into their campaign. Could this be because their sources are pure evil? That is just one idea. [Star Tribune]

The Czech parliament has just voted to grant some rights to same-sex couples. It isn’t full marriage yet, but it’s a start for the generally liberal Eastern European country known mainly to Americans as “the place you go after college.”

If approved also by President Vaclav Klaus, the legislation will allow couples who register their partnership with authorities to have inheritance and health care rights similar to those granted now to heterosexual married couples.

The law, however, does not allow marriage or adoption of children by same-sex partners.

We’re booking our trip to Prague as we speak. Oh, and notice how we refrained from any use of the horrid pun “Czech-Mate?” You won’t get that kind of restraint from the AP. Well, at least in the copy.

Czech parliament approves gay partnership rights [Washington Blade]